USA Africa Dialogue Series - Why We Conducted Trial of Boko Haram Suspects in Secret

Why We Conducted Trial of Boko Haram Suspects in Secret - Lagos

By Olugbenga Soyele
Leadership Newspaper


Lagos State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Ade Ipaye yesterday said that the trial of some members of the deadly Islamic sect, Boko Haram, who were recently sentenced to prison was conducted in secret because of national security.

Ipaye, who made this known at a press conference in Lagos, also said the prosecution of the convicts was done in camera in order to protect information that might have implications for national security.

He said three of the four Boko Haram suspects charged before the Federal High Court, Lagos were not sentenced to death for acts of terrorism because they have not carried out the act of terrorism.

According to him, seventeen suspects were initially arraigned at a Federal High Court as at March, 2013, but by November of same year, they had been reduced to four suspects.

The Lagos AG also explained that 13 suspects had to be released because further investigation carried out on them revealed that there was no sufficient evidence to continue to hold them.

While he pointed out that he obtained a fiat from his federal counterpart for their prosecution, said he had to file a "nolle prosecui" in their favour based upon which they were released.

Ipaye stated that the four suspects that went through trial before Justice Ibrahim Buba are: Ali Mohammed, Adamu Karumi, Ibrahim Usman and Bala Haruna.

They had been charged on a six count charge bordering on conspiracy, acts of terrorism, concealing information and possession of firearms and ammunitions under the terrorism Act, 2013.

Ipaye explained that the law under which they were charged actually prescribed maximum penalty of death sentence.

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the "USA-Africa Dialogue Series" moderated by Toyin Falola, University of Texas at Austin.
For current archives, visit http://groups.google.com/group/USAAfricaDialogue
For previous archives, visit http://www.utexas.edu/conferences/africa/ads/index.html
To post to this group, send an email to USAAfricaDialogue@googlegroups.com
To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to USAAfricaDialogue-
unsubscribe@googlegroups.com
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "USA Africa Dialogue Series" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to usaafricadialogue+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.